Centrelink

Centrelink offers financial help with everyday costs of living and some study expenses.

If you are an Australian student or Australian permanent resident, you may be eligible to receive help from Centrelink.

For more information about the different help options available, see Centrelink - Payments for students and trainees.

Student support payments

Youth allowance

Eligibility: Students under 25
Required study load: Full time
Further information

Austudy

Eligibility: Students over 25
Required study load: Full time
Further information

ABSTUDY

Eligibility: Indigenous students of any age
Required study load: Full time or part time
Further information

Newstart

Eligibility: Unemployed students over 22 looking for work
Required study load: Part time study only
Further information

Other payments

Low income health care card

Eligibility

Most Australian students under the income test limits are eligible, even if they are not eligible for other Centrelink help.

Benefits

Reduced healthcare costs and discounts on medicines, car rego, public transport, and on utility bills.

What you need to do

Visit the low income health care card website for more details.

Student start-up loan

Eligibility

Eligible students who get Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy living allowance.

Loan amount

$1,077. You can get the loan up to 2 times a year, once each loan period.

What you need to do

Visit the student start-up loan website for more details.

Education entry payment

Eligibility

Students who have had a selected non-study related Centrelink payment for the last 12 months.

Benefit

Lump sum taxable payment of $208 a year.

What you need to do

Visit the education entry payment website for more details.

Rent assistance

Eligibility

Students who are recipients of Youth allowance, Austudy, Abstudy or Newstart. Students must not live with their parents and pay a minimum rent amount.

Benefit:

Depends on how much rent you pay (living on your own or shared) and whether you have dependent children.

What you need to do

Visit the rent assistance website for more details.

Tips for ensuring the Centrelink process runs as smoothly as possible

Tips

Ensure you submit all required documentation when applying to avoid delays in assessing your eligibility.
Make sure you inform Centrelink if your financial circumstances or study load changes to avoid getting a Centrelink debt that you will have to pay back later.
You may also want to follow the Centrelink Student Update page on Facebook and investigate the Centrepay service if you are having trouble paying your bills. Centrepay is where Centrelink can organise deductions from your Centrelink payment to pay your bills directly.
Ensure you report your gross (before tax) income, rather than your net income.
Ensure you do not underestimate your income to ensure you are not overpaid and end up with a debt.
If you receive a scholarship or grant, check with Centrelink if this money forms part of your assessable income.
You can get an advance payment of $500 once per year if you are struggling financially but there is eligibility criteria, such as you can’t have a current debt.
If you go overseas (unless you are on a study exchange and let Centrelink know in advance) then some Centrelink payments will cease for the time you are overseas (e.g. Youth Allowance, Newstart, Austudy).
If you are having issues with your Centrelink there are options available to you: you can request to speak to a Centrelink social worker, you can contact your local Member of Parliament or Senator for help, you have the ability to appeal a Centrelink decision or even take your case to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Uniting Communities also has a Welfare Rights service that can assist with Social Security matters.